STATE OF TAMIL NADU Vs. KANIMOZHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The above writ appeal is filed by the State challenging the order of the writ court dated 22.10.2020 passed in W.P. No.15339 of 2020.

(2.) The sole respondent is a destitute widow, having lost her husband at the young age of 22 years, left with two minor children. She had passed her SSLC in the year 2007 and could not continue her further studies and was given in marriage and has become a destitute widow as on date.

(3.) Pursuant to the Notification issued by the appellants herein/respondents dated 22.04.2015 calling for applications for appointment to the post of Lab Assistants in Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary Schools, the writ petitioner had applied for the same under the category 'destitute widow'. The application was to be made on-line. There was a written examination on 31.05.2015, in which the petitioner emerged successful and was called for certificate verification by the third appellant on 10.04.2017. The petitioner had also produced all the necessary certificates excepting the certificate of destitute widow. She has categorically stated that she had applied for the said certificate in August 2016 before the Revenue Divisional Officer, Nagapattinam and the same was issued to her only on 23.05.2017, after almost, an year. Therefore, she could not produce the Destitute Widow Certificate issued by the Revenue Divisional Officer on the date of verification i.e. 10.04.2017. It was stated that the appellants assured that she could produce it in future, as the same has to be issued by the authorities and her appointment would be considered positively. After she received the said certificate from the Revenue Divisional Officer on 23.05.2017, she immediately reached the same to the third appellant and requested him to consider her appointment. The third appellant had rejected her claim as the Destitute Widow Certificate was produced by her belatedly beyond the date fixed for certificate verification, by his order dated 19.08.2020.